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Dynamic backlight controlDynamic backlight control description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060227125, Dynamic backlight control. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates generally to field of power management. More specifically, the present invention relates to methods and apparatus for controlling power consumption of displays. BACKGROUND [0002] As more functionality is integrated into modern computer systems, the need to reduce power consumption becomes increasingly important, especially when the computer systems are mobile systems that operate on battery power. Users of mobile systems continuously expect longer battery life. [0003] Mobile system designers try to address the need for longer battery life by implementing power management solutions that include reducing processor and chipset clock speeds, disabling unused components, and reducing power required by displays. Typically, displays used with today's computer systems are liquid crystal displays (LCDs) of transmissive type. Transmissive LCDs require a light source to light the pixels. The light from the light source is sometimes referred to as a backlight as it is located in the back of the LCD. Power consumption of the LCD increases with the brightness of the backlight. In some computer systems, the backlight power consumption may be at approximately 4 Watts and may soar as high as 6 Watts when at its maximum luminance. There are many on-going efforts aimed at reducing the power consumption associated with the display. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0004] The present invention is illustrated by way of example, and not limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements and in which: [0005] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a computer system that may be used, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. [0006] FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a display with a desktop having active and inactive windows, in accordance with one embodiment. [0007] FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a display with a desktop having an active window and no inactive window, in accordance with one embodiment. [0008] FIG. 4A illustrates an example of an active window that has been enlarged, in accordance with one embodiment. [0009] FIG. 4B illustrates an example of an active window with an application having multiple identifiable areas, in accordance with one embodiment. [0010] FIG. 5 illustrates an example of an active window having an interested area, in accordance with one embodiment. [0011] FIG. 6 illustrates another example of an active window having an interested area, in accordance with one embodiment [0012] FIG. 7 is a flow diagram illustrating an example of a process used to reduce display power consumption associated with an active window, in accordance with one embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0013] For one embodiment, methods to reduce display power consumption of a computer system are disclosed. By identifying an interested area associated with an application executing within an active window, power consumption of areas other than the interested area may be reduced. [0014] In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be evident, however, to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well known structures, processes, and devices are shown in block diagram form or are referred to in a summary manner in order to provide an explanation without undue detail. Computer System [0015] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a computer system that may be used, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Computer system 100 may include a central processing unit (CPU) 102 and may receive its power from an electrical outlet or a battery. The CPU 102 may be coupled to a bus 105. The CPU 102 may be a processor manufactured by, for example, Intel Corporation of Santa Clara, Calif. Chipset 107 may be coupled to the bus 105. The chipset 107 may include a memory control hub (MCH) 110. The MCH 110 may include a memory controller 112 that is coupled to system memory 115 (e.g., random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), etc.). The system memory 115 may store data and sequences of instructions that are executed by the CPU 102 or any other processing devices included in the computer system 100. The chipset 107 may also include an input/output control hub (ICH) 140. The ICH 140 is coupled with the MCH 110 via a hub interface. The ICH 140 provides an interface to input/output (I/O) devices within the computer system 100. The ICH 140 may be coupled to a peripheral bus (e.g., Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus). Thus, the ICH 140 may include a PCI bridge 146 that provides an interface to a PCI bus 142. The PCI bridge 146 may provide a data path between the CPU 102 and peripheral devices. An audio device 150 and a disk drive 155 may be connected to the PCI bus 142. Although not shown, other devices (e.g., keyboard, mouse, etc.) may also be connected to the PCI bus 142. Display [0016] The MCH 110 may include a graphics interface 113. Display 130 may be coupled to the graphics interface 113. The display 130 may be implemented as a LCD, an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display, or any other types of display. For one embodiment, the display 130 may be implemented using multiple backlights (not shown). The backlights may be fluorescent tubes. The backlights may be arranged in different pattern and may be associated with backlight control logic which controls the brightness of the backlights. When the display 130 is a LCD, the brightness of the backlights may affect the brightness of the pixels of the display 130 and therefore the brightness of the image or information being displayed on the display 130. For one embodiment, the backlight control logic may be able to turn on, turn off, or adjust brightness of some or all of the backlights. When the display 130 is an OLED display, there may be no backlight, and the brightness of each of the pixels on the display 130 may be individually controlled. Windows User Interface [0017] FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a display with a desktop having active and inactive windows, in accordance with one embodiment. For one embodiment, the computer system 100 may be configured to operate with a window-based operating system (OS) such as, for example, Microsoft Windows XP manufactured by Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, Wash. Display screen 250 may display a desktop 200 having multiple windows 205, 210 and 215. The desktop 200 may include icons relating to applications, folders, etc. such as, for example, icons 220 and 225. Typically, light from a backlight (not shown) may be distributed uniformly across the display screen 250. The brightness of the backlight may remain the same even though a user of the computer system 100 may not be interested in viewing certain areas of the display screen 250. For example, the window 205 may be selected by a user, and therefore it is in the foreground. It may be likely that the user is more interested in the information displayed in the window 205 than information displayed in the windows 210 and 215. When there is only one backlight, it is not possible to selectively control the distribution of light from the backlight. As a result, the pixels associated with the windows 205, 210 and 215 may be equally illuminated. Continue reading about Dynamic backlight control... Full patent description for Dynamic backlight control Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Dynamic backlight control patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Dynamic backlight control or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Storage device with illuminated panel Next Patent Application: Fuse trimming circuit with higher reliability Industry Class: Computer graphics processing, operator interface processing, and selective visual display systems ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Dynamic backlight control patent info. 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